Express concern over Leno joke: UK MPs to govt

London: A resolution was introduced in the
British Parliament on Thursday to ask the government to convey its
concern to the US over NBC television anchor Jay Leno`s
"disrespectful" use of the Golden Temple`s image on his show.

Indian origin MP Virendra Sharma and his fellow Labour
Party lawmaker John McDonnell tabled a motion in the House of
Commons, urging the David Cameron government to complain to
the Obama administration about Leno`s "disrespectful" use of
the Golden Temple`s image on his show.

Leno, the host of the popular "The Tonight Show" on NBC
channel, earlier this week flashed a picture of the Golden
Temple on his programme and termed it as a possible summer
home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

The motion wants the House to express "concern and regret
that the depiction of the Golden Temple as a home of the rich
showed a complete misunderstanding of the Sikh faith and was
derogatory to Sikhs across the world".

It "calls on Jay Leno and NBC to apologise to all Sikhs
for this disrespectful depiction of the Golden Temple; and
further calls on the government to make representations to the
US government that while recognising principles of freedom of
speech there should be more understanding and respect shown to
the Sikh faith".

The US has defended Leno`s right to free speech terming
his comments as "satirical" while applauding contributions of
Sikh-Americans.

"I think that Leno would be appreciative if we make the
point that his comments are constitutionally protected in the
United States under free speech, and frankly, they appeared to
be satirical in nature," State Department spokesperson
Victoria Nuland had told reporters.